Langley Mystery Weekend Returns for 41st Year, Interactive Whodunnit Feb. 21-22

Langley Mystery Weekend returns for its 41st year Feb. 21–22, staging an interactive whodunnit across downtown Langley at 1st and Anthes and culminating in a Big Reveal at Whidbey Children’s Theatre auditorium, 723 Camano Ave, on Sunday at 5 p.m. Organizers say the weekend invites amateur detectives to question costumed characters, comb storefronts for clues and solve the fictional murder.

Tickets and weekend logistics are laid out on VisitLangley.com and at the Visitor Information Center, 208 Anthes Avenue, where programs will be available on Feb. 21 and 22. Will-call opens at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, and the general public counter opens at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ticket pricing listed on the event page shows Adults: $17.00 and a second line that reads “16-64, 65+, military, or youth under 16: $13.00”; the weekend program includes a comprehensive program with cast photos, a clue map, a copy of the Langley Gazette and a story synopsis.

This year’s mystery centers on the murder of recurring character C.Z. Cash, executor to an estate owned by his late girlfriend Coco Geaherdelli, with plot threads tied to a ’49ers Men’s Club poker game, a fictional Blackberry Bourbanaide distillery and production of hybrid chocolate banana slugs. Chief writer Martin, who also plays returning character Officer Poly Graph, writes what the paper describes as “humorous, pun-laced scripts featuring colorful characters.” Martin said, “I am one of the luckiest writers in the world, on the day we have our photo shoot all of my characters come alive” and added, “They start interacting as my characters. That’s a real blessing to me.” Co-writer Rachel McDougald plays The Russian Spy Natasha Boriskoff and has performed in Mystery Weekends for more than 30 years, while co-writer Mike Hill has been involved for more than 20 years and now lives in California.

Local merchants take different approaches to the weekend’s economic impact as the event “attracts visitors from all over the globe.” A local merchant told reporters, “There are two kinds of business people in Langley … Those that love Mystery Weekend and those that hate it. People who hate it think everyone comes into their store, grabs a clue and doesn’t buy anything. Those people put their clues on the outside of their building.” Lundahl described a storefront strategy that aims to convert clues into sales: “We put up signs, ‘Clue This Way,’ so people have to see what we have around the store. Even if they don’t buy anything then, they will come back and shop before they leave.”

Organizers encourage turning the mystery into a mini-getaway with lodging options promoted on the event page. The Langley Chamber of Commerce organizes the weekend and can be reached at 360-221-6765 for questions about tickets, hours or town logistics. With visitors and cast moving through downtown, residents who have picked up programs at 208 Anthes Avenue or ordered via VisitLangley.com are invited to share whether Mystery Weekend brings a boost to their favorite local businesses.